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Business Briefs

Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire

Tuesday, February 13, 2001

Google takes over Deja.com service

SAN FRANCISCO -- Google Inc. took over Deja.com's online discussion service, adding more than 500 million wide-ranging messages to one of the Web's most extensive search engines.

Financial terms between the privately held companies weren't disclosed.

In 1995, Deja -- originally known as Dejanews -- created a quick and easy way to read and post messages on an online forum, known as Usenet, which doesn't use the same computer code that powers the World Wide Web. While opening up Usenet's discussion boards to Web browsers, New York-based Deja also created an archive of all the messages posted in the newsgroups. Deja's technology allows Web surfers to perform topical searches to focus on specific discussion threads.

The Usenet messages delve into diverse topics, ranging from discussions on rocket science to popular culture.

Japan acknowledges brush with recession

TOKYO -- Japan acknowledged today it was flirting with recession, but ministers and some economists expressed confidence that steps by the Bank of Japan to calm money markets would help put a floor under the sagging economy.

Economics Minister Taro Aso said he expected a flat economy in the final three months of 2000, rekindling debate on chances of a second straight quarter of shrinking output that would technically land Japan in its second recession in two years. "I think we can still achieve the 1.2 percent growth target for fiscal 2000/01," Aso said.

His caution contrasted with optimism last week by Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, but coincided with a warning today by the Bank of Japan which highlighted looming risks from a further slowdown in the global economy.

The federal bank, in a monthly report, kept unchanged from last month its overall view that the world's second-largest economy was in a gradual recovery, although at a snail's pace.

On Friday, the bank cut in its official discount rate to 0.35 percent from 0.5 percent, a move that some analysts believe will help the economy.